WinespringBrother
Given that Shards, and perhaps, Ascended beings, have intents similar to their names...
Brandon Sanderson
More that they have names similar to their intents.
WinespringBrother
So, would Unity be a natural enemy of Autonomy?
Brandon Sanderson
Um... Possibly. You say "natural," and so I--
WinespringBrother
Well, would one eliminate the other one? But more towards Autonomy trying to break up--
Brandon Sanderson
To break up Unity. It's so hard to say, because Autonomy is a bit of a strange duck. Like, what counts as being Autonomous? Is absorbing everything and becoming one again Autonomous or not? That's kind of your question that you get into. And the way Autonomy looks at it right now, is no. Autonomy wants to remain Autonomy. Autonomy does not want to be corrupted by anything else. And Autonomy would think the Shards are better on their own. But is this a natural effect, or part of the-- Does that make sense?
WinespringBrother
Well, but it's also along the lines of, Odium wants to break up the other ones, so they don't--
Brandon Sanderson
Odium just wants to be top dog. And your two ways to be top dog are to climb higher, or to lower everyone else. And he's like, we're gonna lower everyone else. Because I know, if I combine, it stops being me, is what his opinion is. I would no longer be the person I am. I would change into someone else. And then that person gets to rule, and I don't want that person to rule. I want to.